Greetings, minna-san (everyone)!!
First off, I would like to apologize for the delay and for how I was pouting last chapter. :) I have had a couple of rough months, but acting like that was pretty stupid.
Moving on while you all nod in agreement...
I'm fairly happy with how this chapter turned out and I'm hoping that you guys will too. It's much longer than the previous one, so hopefully it'll tide everyone over 'til the next one's done and up. Thanks so much for those who reviewed!! I love you all to death!! ... okay, maybe not to that extreme (lucky you). Cookies for everyone. :D
Disclaimer: Now... I've counted it all up. All those years of birthday wishes, wishbone wishes (lol), and shooting star wishes... and I still have yet to be able to legally claim ownership of Rurouni Kenshin. So wrong... if someone wants to sue me for this story, well...
(points) Bob made me do it! (foaming-mouthed lawyers tackle poor Bob)
--Chapter VI-Pain in Understanding--
Something just isn't right
I can feel it inside
The truth isn't far behind me
You can't deny
When I turn the lights out
When I close my eyes
Reality overcomes me I'm living a lie
--Together-by Avril Lavigne--
Kaoru sighed softly in contentment and curled closer to Kenshin's warm body. Half of her was glad she had given in... the other half felt like she had lost an important battle. Opting to shove away the uncomfortable feelings to be dealt with at a later time, she tried to focus on the fuzzy, warm, feel-good thoughts. Which, to her mild distress, were fleeing as an uncomfortable lump settled in her stomach to weigh like lead.
Why wasn't she allowed to feel happy for a brief moment? She wondered bitterly, burying her face in the firm wall of Kenshin's chest. She felt him stroke her hair, and felt his chest rumble pleasantly against her skin as he began to speak.
"I have something to tell you, Kaoru."
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Misao dashed down the hallway to Aoshi's room and threw open the door, heedless and uncaring of the meeting inside. "Yahiko had another vision!"
Aoshi and Sano gave the woman looks of surprise, Aoshi's decidedly less pronounced than Sanosuke's.
"What did the kid see this time?" the tall fighter leaned against Aoshi's desk as he stared down at the petite kunoichi.
"Yumi is trying to find Kaoru for some reason!!" Misao threw her hands up in the air, "Why one earth is she looking for her?" Her cerulean eyes shifted to stare down each of the suddenly silent men in turn. "Spill it," she commanded, her expression stating plainly that she was not allowing any of them to get away with telling her nothing. "I want pertinent facts," the woman added as Sano opened his mouth to speak.
Sanosuke found the tall book shelves that filled the Okashira's spartanly decorated office to be very interesting at that particular moment. His chocolate eyes scanned the many rows of books in clearly opaque, false interest.
Aoshi closed his icy orbs with a detached look upon his face. Han'nya continued to remain silent, though his form grew minutely tense.
The small room was filled with the quiet tension. With resolute steps, Misao stalked to the front of Aoshi's large, oak desk. Running her fingers along the satiny, dark finish, she slowly withdrew a kunai. In a flash, the same kunai was embedded in the wood almost to the handle.
"I am not a child," she growled out, eyes flashing dangerously. "I am a full-fledged onmitsu, and I demand to be treated as such." Her chest heaved with controlled temper as she waited for someone to begin talking.
"You are a talented ninja," Aoshi acknowledged, his eyes still closed, "This, however, pertains to Battousai."
"It pertains to Kaoru," came her swift, venomous retort.
Han'nya stepped forward, noting the near-boiling point of Misao's aggravation. "With all due respect, Aoshi-sama, Misao-sama should be informed in order to protect herself, should anything occur."
Sano turned to look at both Aoshi and Han'nya, "I think he's right. If the weasel doesn't know, she might end up worse off."
"Who're you calling a weasel?" Misao bit out, still trying valiantly to not strangle anyone as Han'nya had appeased her temper, and she was grateful that the brown-haired man had taken her corner too.
Aoshi nodded his head once very slowly. Han'nya took this as permission.
"Yumi ordered Kaoru to be one of the many test subjects for her top scientist's new project."
At his brief pause, the woman prodded him along impatiently, "Which was?"
"A new type of soldier, a breed that could potentially keep her on the throne forever. Mixing the blood of demons with those blessed with the blood of the ancients, those with gifts. Many died during the experiment, unable to tolerate the transfusion that changed their very genetics." He stopped to pick up a file from the many that lay on his leader's desk. He tossed it to Misao who caught the folder deftly.
Opening it quickly, she scanned the contents. Her face paled slightly at the report and pictures within, but her face remained steady and resolute. "Kaoru survived."
"The only survivor. That is why Yumi wants her back. Even with only one at her beck and call, Kamiya-san is more than powerful enough to destroy anything in her way. With Kamiya-san and Shishio at her side, she could possibly take over anything she desires and remain unscathed."
"Kamiya is almost as powerful as Battousai," Aoshi finally spoke.
"She killed every scientist that ran the place, the guards in her path, and several others when she got away," Sanosuke shook his head in amazement. "They say the blood was two feet deep on the floors."
"An exaggeration," Han'nya stated calmly, taking back the file Misao handed to him.
"So, that means Himura doesn't have anyone to go after?" she questioned.
Sano nodded; his expression was grim. "Kenshin's not going to like that at all-but it's done. And who better to experiment on than the only possible heir to the throne?"
Misao's eyes narrowed, "All the more reason to get her back, huh?"
"All the more reason to protect her," Han'nya interjected quietly.
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"He what?!" Kaoru gasped out, nearly jumping off the bed in shock. "And you didn't bother to mention this little... detail, why?"
Kenshin ran a hand through the thick, fiery locks of his hair, frustration upon his face. "You would have run off."
"Damn straight!" she spat out, wrapping the blanket around her body, stomach heaving now that she thought about how she had let him touch her. "You think I'm going to swallow this, and tie the knot with you? Are you out of your frickin' mind?"
Violet-amber swirled eyes narrowed, "You're not the only person with their life on the line." Or the only one who had sacrificed. His thoughts ran to the many that had been sacrificed to this war, who were still sacrificing.
"Oh, right. So it's my fault that they're coming after you, because you kidnapped me? Is that how it works?" the woman growled, her blue eyes flashing dangerously with a silver sheen, hands clenching into fists at her blanketed sides.
"You know who is trying to kill you, Kaoru."
"Yeah, and I know something else, I'm not ready to commit to you or anyone else, buddy." she pointed a stiff finger towards the door. "Out. Now."
Kenshin's face became unreadable, causing Kaoru to tense. "I haven't yet blamed you for anything."
"I care?" she growled, wishing the man would simply disappear. It was highly unfair for him to toss her father's last wishes in her face like that! Okay... thinking back, he hadn't tossed them in her face... but it had felt like that. She had no desire to marry. End of story. It was bad enough to know what blood ran through her veins, both naturally and not, but what Kenshin and her father wanted was impossible.
Taking out Yumi was not a problem with her. Hell, that bitch did this to her in the first place! But to take over the throne, and to marry Kenshin? He was way off his rocker if he thought she was going to do anything besides kill the woman that had so royally screwed up her life.
The man opposite her was silent, not a good sign in Kaoru's opinion.
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Megumi paced the dark hallway of the hospital, flinching at every sound. The steady drip of broken pipes kept her heart racing furiously. The wind whispering hollowly through the broken walls and destroyed furniture caused her mind to race with unpleasant thoughts. Her soul wept with the visual intake of the destruction of her family's hospital. Full, painted lips pursed into a thin line as she frowned. Her long, ruby nails dug painfully into the pale, soft skin of her hands and she closed cinnamon eyes to clear her heaving mind.
A heavy step in the far end of the corridor had her eyes snapping open, and her heart beating erratically.
The demon sniffed the air. Megumi's perfume lingered delicately, enticing the flesh-craving monster. Its reptilian eyes blinked; the outer set vertically, then the inner flickered horizontally like a thin membrane over the yellow irises. A long, thin tongue snaked out to taste the air and scented the fear that hung as heavily as the perfume. Dagger-like teeth glinted wickedly in the dim light that poured in from the outside as the demon grinned maliciously in anticipation of its next meal.
Her booted feet flew down the corridors, past the wreckage of the rooms that lined the narrow passage. Long ebony hair streamed out behind the curvaceous woman as she struggled with dialing her cell phone.
"Sano!" she hissed urgently into the phone. 'Megitsune, what's wrong?'
She turned briefly, hoping the monster was still far behind her. "The clinic's been under attack. They must have guessed my connection to you all, and there's something here and it's after me!"
'What is it? Wait, skip the details, I'll be there in five.'
"Hurry!" she struggled to keep her voice from cracking as she dashed into an office. Hanging up, she closed the door and locked it. Closing her eyes, she prayed fervently that someone would take pity on her and keep her from being ended like this. Being the main course of a demon was not her idea of a nice way to die. Slowly, she drew out a handgun from her lab coat and readied it. There was no way she was going to end up as demon food. No way.
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Sano closed his phone, a stony look upon his face as he quickly ran out of the room. Misao chased after him, curiosity displayed upon her open features. "What's wrong? Is Megumi okay?"
"The fox's run into trouble at the clinic. Someone's spilled, they know Megumi's with us. Clinic's been trashed and there's a demon after her." he stated shortly, almost ripping the front door open in his haste to leave. Running out, his long legs helped the man to cover more ground as he dashed to his motorcycle. The petite ninja ran after him, and seated herself behind the brunette after he hopped on. At his glare, she huffed indignantly. "I'm coming too, so shut up and get going."
Not wishing to waste time or breath on the girl, he revved up the engine and took off, hoping everything was okay.
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The lizard-like demon slid fluidly around the corner, tongue flickering out to once again taste the air. A predatory gleam flickered in his eyes as he turned to the locked door on his left. Talon tipped fingers slid down the door, making an awful noise.
Megumi swallowed painfully. She had never signed up for this. They owed her greatly, and were going to be held responsible for the clinic's repairs. She stepped away from the door and backed up one, two, three feet away. Adrenaline and fear rushed through her veins, fighting each other for dominance. With a steady hand, she held the gun up and prepared herself and the demon bashed on the door.
Cracks slithered down the wooden structure, bending in visibly from the heavy weight of the monster on the other side. The woman bit back a scream that bubbled up through her throat as she saw chunks of wood fly from the new hole in the door, a scaly hand having punched through. "Come out, come out, I will feast on your flesh and bones." the demon hissed, its scaly mouth drawn back into a hideous grin.
With another hiss, it slid its hand down and unlocked the door. Opening creakily, it swung forward on its hinges to reveal the dusky interior and the pale, but determined woman. It stepped forward and dived with lightning speed as Megumi fired the weapon. If it had been a mortal man, the bullet would have struck the center of its forehead and struck it dead upon impact.
Unfortunately for Megumi, it was not mortal.
Her eyes widened and her breath hitched as she felt something slimy and wet slither up and off her neck. She shivered as she felt it behind her, felt the cold razor sharp claws trail down the wetness it had left on her neck. Its other hand wrapped around her arm and slowly sank its talons into her arm. A scream ripped itself out of her throat as pain burst in white-hot explosions from the gaping punctures in her arm that wept blood.
"Scream louder." it hissed softly in her ear as it ripped the talons from her arm only to repeat the process.
Sano's heart nearly stopped as he heard Megumi's pained screams. The tall fighter flew as if all the demons from hell were after him as he sought to find the woman. Misao tried to keep up, her diligent training the only reason she could in any way keep up with the man. She cursed her height for not the last time in her life as they raced around another corner.
Misao stopped, her skin paling as she yanked Sano's arm to stop his headlong dash. His chocolate colored eyes turned to a shade so dark it was almost black as he took in the angry, bloody tears in the weeping woman's arms, and turned their heated glare to the beast that had dared to do such a thing. Cracking his knuckles he stepped forward, "Get your filthy hands off her, you son of a bitch!"
The demon let out a hissing chuckle and threw Megumi to the side. She hit the wall with a sharp thud and sank to the floor like a broken doll. Misao was only relieved to not have heard a cracking sound. She dashed to the woman's side and out of the reach of both Sanosuke and the demon. "What are you going to do? A mere mortal and no weapon in sight? Are you foolish or brave?"
It circled the furious fighter, "Perhaps you are simply a rash idiot."
Sano allowed the demon to circle closer. When it came into his range, he struck. A lightning fast punch sent the man's broad fist plowing deeply into the demon's scaly hide, through flesh and smashing into the bone with an ear-splitting crack, fury melding its strength to his own. The lizard-demon flew backwards with amazing force into the wall behind it, through it, and landed with a loud thud on the floor of the next door room, a cloud of dust, plaster, and debris filling the entire area. With a dry grin, Sanosuke stepped through the impromptu door and stood over the demon who was curling in on itself as it writhed with pain. "Ya know, weak demons like you have no chance against these fists of mine. I'd let you go tell your boss that, but you know-" he hauled the demon up by the throat to stare it in the eyes. The demon saw its death written in the dark orbs. It kicked and struggled as the man continued, "I really don't like you."
A blow to the head caved in the demon's skull, ending it quickly. Sano shook the blood and demon organs off his hand, a grimace of disgust planting itself on his rough features. "Sheesh, I have to fight garbage like this and get crap all over my hand too..." he grunted, trying to get the mess off as best he could before scooping up the unconscious doctor. "Come on weasel, let's go."
Worry plagued both Misao's and Sanosuke's minds as they made their way out of the ruined mess that remained of the Takani Medical Center. The demon's blood saturated the air with a hideous metallic tang that smelled stronger than the scent of a human's spilled blood ever could. There would be others in a matter of minutes.
With the unconscious form of Megumi in his arms, the tall fighter grits his teeth and ran faster, hoping against hope that there would be no vultures circling.
The shadows crawled visibly. Darkness slithered from shadow to shadow, making the small woman's heart race with both excitement and worry. "Sano." a hissed warning was all he needed to know what was going on. Her oceanic blue eyes narrowed as she scanned the surrounding darkness of the street outside the hospital. Thanks to her natural abilities and heightened senses from years of training, she was much better equipped to handle this than Sanosuke... at least, in the dark. The time of the ninja. This was her zone, and if she couldn't cope with this, she couldn't in all honesty expect Aoshi-sama to see her as the onmitsu she had earlier claimed to be.
A silver flash of kunai streamed through the air, illuminated eerily by the moon and streetlights, striking a dark form. It squealed with pain as it landed on all fours on the ground, baring its fangs at the humans.
"Damn." Sano shifted the woman in his arms, causing her to moan.
"Get going, rooster head, I'll cover you."
"Are you insane-" he paused, noticing the look in her eyes and the bright flash of more kunai being tossed with incredible speed. He nodded his head and headed for his bike, the petite ninja covering his tracks. The tires screamed shrilly against the pavement, matching the engine's roar in equal volume as he sped away.
Misao grinned at the slithering darkness, "So, who's first?"
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Kaoru paced. To and fro. Back and forth. She was probably wearing a hole in the carpeted floor, but that really wasn't her problem.
Kenshin had left in absolute silence. Granted, she had rejected his... could that have been called a proposal? Anyway, she hadn't reacted very well at all to that bit of news. Perhaps he would sulk about it and they could make up later? He had been the best partner she had had in ages, and the woman felt somewhat sorry that it was probably going to be over before anything truly started. But there was no way on earth, or elsewhere that she would consider such a thing.
Marriage was just not in her cards.
She could feel the dark evil in the streets, the air, and knew Yumi was searching high and low for her. The woman was probably after everyone here too, if only for the sole reason that they had assisted her.
Sort of.
All she had ever wanted was a normal life, and dammit, why couldn't she be allowed that?! Kaoru flopped on the bed and buried her face in the pillow, bitter tears sliding down her face in hot, salty trails.
Life sucked.
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--END NOTES--
So? Like it? Hate it? Haven't had any real action in this story up to date, but expect increased dosages of it in future chapters. :) Sano is soooooo much fun to write, probably 'cause he doesn't take crap from anyone. Add the bad boy style, the strength, etc. and you have a great package to work with.
Still devoted to Kenshin and Aoshi, but Sano ranks close behind.
Please review and tell me what you think!